Report: Chicago Bulls Fire Fred Hoiberg After 5-19 Start

NORMAN, OK - FEBRUARY 9: Head coach Fred Hoiberg of the Iowa State Cyclones looks on against the Oklahoma Sooners during the game at Lloyd Noble Center on February 9, 2015 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Iowa State 94-83. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

We are only at the quarter mark of the season and another coach has been relieved of their duties. The Chicago Bulls have fired Fred Hoiberg after a 5-19 start to the season and a current six-game losing streak. Hoiberg was in the fourth year of a five-year, $25 million contract. His final game as coach of the Bulls was a 121-105 loss to the Houston Rockets on Saturday, December 1.

Report: Chicago Bulls Fire Fred Hoiberg After 5-19 Start

Hoiberg will finish his tenure with the Bulls with a 115-155 record over 3+ seasons. He finished with a record of .500 or better in his first two seasons, with his lone playoff appearance being in the 2016-17 season. The Bulls lost that series 4-2 to the Boston Celtics.

A replacement for Hoiberg has already been established. Assistant Coach Jim Boylen is reportedly next in line to coach the Bulls. What makes it different is that Boylen will not be given an interim title. He will be the permanent coach of the Bulls as the organization is reportedly confident in Boylen going forward.

Jim Boylen is signed through the 2019-20 season, paying him just under $1M annually, league sources tell ESPN. It is immediately unclear whether the Bulls will ask him to coach under that deal, or will negotiate a longer-term extension.

The Next Steps For The Bulls

It has been a rough season for the Bulls, to say the least. While it was not expected they would make the playoffs, a 5-19 start surely was not a thought going into the season. The signing of Jabari Parker has not panned out. Lauri Markkanen suffered an elbow injury prior to the season and missed the first 23 games. Bobby Portis has only appeared in four games this season due to a knee injury. Fortunately, Markkanen returned Saturday against the Rockets. He received first-team All-Rookie honors last season and is one of the exciting young players in the association.

The Bulls seem to be brought in on change. With Hoiberg out the door, Boylen will lead the team as key players return and hopefully a positive turnaround is on the way for one of the league’s historic franchises.